Work contract and own IP

the_new_mr

Hi all,

First post on this forum. I hope this is okay.

I'm in contract negotiations with a company which have a trial period before offering full-time employment.

Reading the contract, I felt the wording around own IP was a little vague. I am working on my own side project with some co-founders and was worried that they would be able to claim IP ownership of our work.

I asked for clarification by email. They went one better and added an appendix on the end of the contract stating that the specific project would be owned by us.

I showed this to a solicitor I know. They were surprised that the main body of the contract didn't reference the newly appended appendix (the body remains as it was). I asked for an adjustment to include a reference to the appendix in the body. They said they could not do this (stating too much behind the scenes work).

I'm wondering: Is the appendix and the reference to the appendix in the email enough? Or is the absence of a reference to the appendix in the body of the contract damning for our project?

Del2005

What does the solicitor you know say? Because their advice is a lot better than random strangers on the Internet, who aren't allowed give legal advice.

Mr. Incognito

Ask the solicitor

nuac

Mod
As advised by previous posters. Matter for your solicitor
Closed